Bobcats War Room - Pick # 25 - 2009

[August Us Seazr]

Greetings for the 25th return of our intrepid group! We have singled out quite a few of the top players for the upcoming draft and installed them in order of preference on our big board. It is my pleasure to announce to you that there are no more UNC players that were projected for the first round available- Our latest enrollee was Wayne Ellington of the Tar Heels.

I know that we have had fits and starts with the weather and my family's health situation. This week, I want to try to push on to the conclusion of the first round big board. Including this vote, we have six more names to select. Choose well! Remember our needs, and vote for the guy that gets us the farthest- whether by trade, or by long career as a Bobcat!

[August Us Seazr]

I have studied this group and have developed a pecking order.

First Preference and gets my vote tonight - DaJuan Summers
Second Preference - Marcus Thornton
Third Preference - Taj Gibson
Fourth Preference- Eric Maynor
Fifth Preference- Omri Casspi
Sixth Preference- Gani Lawal. (Gani Lawal and Gana Diop on the same team? You do the math! I can see Steve Martin messing this one up on a NIGHTLY basis.)

That is, this is the preference of the nine here tonight. A couple of other names might bump these around a little- later.

A little tidbit on my first preference. This is very much a vote of confidence in the coaching that has been available to him on the collegiate level. To a large degree, good coaching gets that talent honed like a good sharp knife. Summers is one of the effective cogs in the Georgetown machine. We need effective cogs in Charlotte. Summers gets the nod.

[GoBobcats]

Marcus Thornton

[BigSlam]

Lawal

[August Us Seazr]

News Flash. I was just checking the N&O and saw a headline. Gani Lawal has pulled out of the draft. Those of you who have voted for Lawal might want to check for yourselves. The option is out there where you can change your vote if you desire.

I'm not trying to change your vote, but am just giving a heads-up. Thanks.

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/lawal-will-return-to-georgia-tech

[BigSlam]

Thanks AUS. That being the case, I'd go with Gibson.

[Eoghan]

I with Casspi because Spurs' talent guru R.C. Buford is really high on him. He'll probably need to spend a few years overseas but he at least would be a nice trade asset or cap friendly since he'll be overseas.

[Walt Cronkite]

^I hate the idea or signing international players late in the 1st. If they never turn out to be good, then it's a wasted pick. If they turn out to be better than their rookie scale deal, they're never coming over. You pretty much have to hope you get a guy that is sooooo sold on playing in THE best pro hoops league in the world that he's willing to concede the rest...

[August Us Seazr]

Well, I'm impressed. Our first tie comes in at # 25. You know what that means! The dreaded reverse raffle, where you don't know who won until the next to the last draw of the slip. So, here goes! Our three tying parties are Gani Lawal, DaJuan Summers, and Marcus Thornton, all with 2 votes each. Unfortunately, our three way tie got broken really fast when Lawal dropped out of the draft yesterday. I could just tell that Big Slam was struck down by that action on Lawal's part- and that he switched his vote to Taj Gibson. So, Lawal is out of the running.

Our equally sized post it notes - one for each vote for that candidate- were labeled and dropped into a container. Last slip out is our winner! Here goes.......

Slip # 1- DaJuan Summers. - Advantage Thornton.
Slip # 2- Marcus Thornton. - Deuce!
Slip # 3- This one gets eliminated..............Thornton!
Slip # 4 and our winner-

DaJuan Summers.

May the Thornton be with you next vote! On to 26!